Metropolitan Andrei Catholic School
Email: metropolitanandreiinfo@dpcdsb.org
Website: https://www.dpcdsb.org/ANDRE
Location: 515 Mississauga Valley Blvd Mississauga ON , L5A 3G6
Phone: 905.270.4151
Twitter: @MetroDPCDSB
Principal's Message
Welcome back to Metropolitan Andrei for what promises to be a year filled with new opportunities, growth, and success! We hope you had a restful and enjoyable break, and we are thrilled to have each and every one of you back with us.
As the school comes alive once again with the bustling energy of students, the dedication of our educators, and the unwavering support of parents, we are reminded of the vibrant community that makes Metropolitan Andrei truly exceptional.
As a former Metro student (JK to Grade 7 - the picture I shared is me in JK), I am happy to be back again helping out students to learn and grow spiritually, emotionally and academically. My apologies, in advance, for the length of this SMORE. There is just so much information to share. Please take the time to read through the entire update to be well informed.
School staff have been working hard to prepare for our school opening. Thank you to Mrs. Speziale and the staff who have been preparing for opening day. We thank our custodial staff who have worked throughout the summer to make our school a clean and safe environment. The staff has been busy making preparations to make the transition back to school as smooth as possible. We look forward to working with parents and caregivers as partners in education.
As we journey with our Catholic Education Week theme 2023 "We Are Called to Love" reminds us that we come from all different walks of life but are created in the image of God.
From the book of Romans, "We, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members, one of another." Romans 12:5
A warm welcome to all the new families to our school community and welcome back to all those who are returning. A special greeting is also extended to our Junior Kindergarten children who are starting school for the first time. May your days here be memorable and inspire life-long learning.
As we strive to promote environmental stewardship, our newsletters will continue to be sent home electronically. We will also continue to ensure all families are signed up for Schoolcash on-line payment method.
I wish everyone a strong start to the school year. Our staff is dedicated and committed to working with our families, parish and community partners to contribute to a safe, happy and inspiring learning and working environment for all of our students in their journey through a Catholic faith-based education.
Our first school event will be our Meet the Teacher Night on Thursday, September 21, 2023. More information will be shared. Please save the date if you can.
Be Well, God Bless and Stay Safe,
Ms. Di Nunzio - Principal
on behalf of Metropolitan Andrei Staff
School Hours
Supervision at Metro Andrei begins at the school at 8:15 a.m.
8:15 am and 8:30 am - soft entry - students are asked to go directly to their assigned entry doors and proceed directly to their classroom.
8:15 am - Students in Grades 1 to 8 may enter the building and Kinders meet in Kinder yard
8:30 am school begins
9:53 am - 10:08 a.m. Recess
11:31 a.m.-12:31 p.m. Lunch
12:31 PM classes begin
1:55-2:10 p.m. Recess
3:00 pm - Dismissal
By now all students should be aware of their assigned entry and exit door. Kindergarten students arrive and are dismissed via the kindergarten yard at the front of the school.
Supervision in the kindergarten yard begins at 8:15am. Gr. 1-8 students can begin entering the school in the morning at 8:15am.
All students should have arrived at the school and entered through their designated door by 8:30am. This is the same door from which students will be exiting at the end of the day.
Please arrive at your child’s exit door prior to 3:00 if you are picking up your child.
Catholic Code of Conduct
P.A. Day
Monday September 18, 2023 is a Professional Activity Day. Students do not attend school on this day. Teachers will
be involved in professional development.
PLASP CHILD CARE SERVICES
PLASP operates before and after school programs, in this school, for children up to 12 years of age. Please contact
PLASP at (905) 276-9322 Ext. 202 for more information .
Catholic Education Week Prayer
God who is love,
Love is our calling, and the goal for which you have made us.
As we celebrate Catholic Education Week,
may our love in action reveal to our world
that we are people of justice and mercy.
May our daily words and example show clearly
that we are people of faith and hope.
In the ways we reflect you daily,
may everyone recognize us as people of joy.
Help us to never forget how much you love us,
and to cherish your life within us,
which gives energy and direction to our loving.
May we hear your call to love generously and inclusively,
and may we call our world to be more loving also.
All of this we ask in the name of Jesus, our Friend and our Lord.
Amen.
Transportation
Transportation is provided for FDK and Grade 1-8 students at Metropolitan Andrei School who meet the Board distance eligibility for busing. Students who are ELIGIBLE are automatically assigned to a BUS STOP.
Please be sure to arrive at the bus stop AT LEAST 5 minutes before the scheduled pick up time. You can get all busing information by signing into to STOPR (OEN is required to register and access child busing information and to receive late/cancelled notifications. OEN is on the students report card.)
Students are reminded that riding the bus is a privilege. They are expected to conduct themselves safely and appropriately. Bus meetings will be held in the first weeks of school to go over safety and appropriate bus behaviour.
Drivers are not able to change bus stops or times. Students will be provided with bus tags on the first days of school.
Parent Phone Line 905-890-6000 Ext #1 Big Bus Ext #2 Spec Ed
Parents must provide us with their child’s OEN or student # in order for us to access their busing information.
Students in JK, SK and Grade 1 must be met at the stop by a responsible adult. Please note that students will be returned to school if there is no one to meet them at the stop. Your child will be given a red bus tag which must always be attached to their knapsack.
Please also note that eligibility is based on age and home address distance from the school as per the information provided by transportation:
- Kindergarten to Grade 1: 1.0 kilometers
- Grades 2 to 4: 1.6 kilometers
- Grades 5 to 8: 2.0 kilometers
- Grades 9 to 12: 3.8 kilometers
Please double check new eligibility distance if your children are transitioning from:
- Grade 1 to grade 2
- Grade 4 to grade 5
- Grade 8 to grade 9
For any first time riders, please access the first time rider safety program information: https://www.stopr.ca/safety/first-time-rider-safety-programs.
If you require courtesy seating, please complete the form and return to the school office as soon as possible. Please note that courtesy seats are available if there is room on the bus and may not be granted until after the October Thanksgiving weekend. Thank you for your patience and understanding with courtesy seats.
Reporting Absences - School Messenger
Kiss and Ride
Thank you very much to the many parents who safely use the Kiss’n’Ride drop-off in the morning! The patience and courtesy demonstrated by our community goes a long way in maintaining a safe environment for all!
A few reminders to help promote safety for all:
-If you wish to use the Kiss'n'Ride lane (the lane next to the sidewalk), we ask that you please stay in your vehicle and let your child(ren) exit the car on their own, and from the sidewalk side only.
-If you believe your child needs assistance in exiting the vehicle, then we ask that you use available parking on the street. You can then exit the vehicle with your child and safely walk with them to the school, and this can all be done without causing a delay for those who are using the Kiss'n'Ride in the manner for which it was designed.
-We also ask that you please pull up as far as possible in the Kiss'n'Ride area before letting your child(ren) out. We realize this may result in a slightly longer walk for your child(ren), but it really helps the Kiss'n'Ride to avoid being backed up.
-Please have children leave or enter your car only when you are in the curb lane in Kiss’n’Ride. This is essential for student safety. Please do not block the drive-thru lane.
-Please consider dropping your child off a few minutes earlier in the morning. Even on the busiest of days in Kiss’n’Ride, there’s usually very little traffic be-tween 8:15 and 8:20 in the morning.
Thank you for your attention to these matters.
We know that everyone is in a hurry in the morning, but our number one concern is always the safety of all members of our community at Metropolitan Andrei School.
*NO DOGS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY In the interest of student safety, we remind you that dogs are not permitted on school property. A dog’s behaviour and response around strangers can be unpredictable. Although dogs can be good pets for some people, they can be scary to some and pose an allergic risk to others. Therefore, dogs should not be exercised on school property or brought to school when dropping off or picking up students.
Thank you for taking the time to be considerate of others by following all of these important safety reminders.
Allergies
Please be aware that there are students in our school with a
severe life-threatening food allergy (anaphylaxis) to NUTs and PEANUTs. This is a medical condition that causes a severe reaction to certain allergens and can result in death within minutes.
Although this may or may not affect your child’s class directly, please send lunches and snacks to school with your children that are free from peanuts or nut products.
We ask that you do not send in food products for the whole class to celebrate birthdays or social occasions. A donation of a book or game to the classroom is a safe alternative to
food products and will be enjoyed so much longer by the children.
If you have any questions, please talk to your child’s teacher or the school staff. We look forward to your co-operation in making this a safe year for all of our pupils.
Medical
If your child has a medical condition, please ensure that the school is aware of it by contacting the office of any changes to existing medications/conditions as well as any NEW medical conditions. Forms can be sent home electronically.
Concussion and Head Injuries
Personal Electronic Devices
Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs): As part of our efforts to promote and maintain a positive Catholic climate in our schools, the Board maintains a policy regarding Personal Electronic Devises (PEDs) on school property. Our general recommendation is that students do not bring Personal Electronic Devices to school. These are valuable items, and there is the risk they may get lost or be damaged at school. Not having these devices at school also better enables a student to avoid any potential distractions from their school work. We understand, however, that some families prefer their child to have a device in order to facilitate communication after school. If you do wish for your child to bring a device to school, please know that all PEDs must be kept out of sight, turned off, and not used within school premises or during school-sanctioned activities, unless specifically allowed for an academic activity by the teacher. Parents should always call the school office if they need to communicate with their child, and students should always use the office phone if they need to communicate with a parent during the school day. If a teacher is allowing PEDs for a classroom activity, a note will go home, and PED use will be voluntary.
